“Island in the Sun” by Weezer

A relaxed, retro masterpiece.

It’s the end of the week, and I want to send everyone off into the weekend with the best vibes possible. That’s why the Daily Music Picks newsletter features a weekly segment called Fun Song Fridays! Regardless of era, genre, or style, the criterion is simple: it must deliver the joy and excitement we all need in our lives.

You can access the entire Fun Song Fridays archive here. While you’re at it, add the companion playlist to your favorite streaming platform.

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Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!

Today’s music pick is one of the most recognizable summer songs of all time—a relaxed, retro masterpiece.

Genre: Pop, Alternative

Label: Geffen

Release Date: July 16, 2001

Vibe: 🏝️

In the post-Pinkerton Weezerverse, “Island in the Sun” is somehow one of their more divisive tracks. It’s infused with the kind of breezy, sun-soaked vibe that compelled the A.V. Club to declare the song “a reminder that [band leader Rivers] Cuomo really does deserve Brian Wilson comparisons for reasons beyond being a hermetic weirdo with a solid grasp of pop songcraft.” Or perhaps it’s “so laid back it’s practically laconic,” as per the Magnet’s summary. Maybe it’s somewhere in the middle. Perhaps it’s just low-stakes fun. That’s still allowed, right?

Released 23 years ago this week, “Island in the Sun” was the second single off Weezer (Green Album), despite making the tracklist at the last minute due to producer Ric Ocasek’s enthusiasm. The near-afterthought slowly became one of the band’s most commercially successful tracks, charting well across the Atlantic and cracking the year’s Top 10 in Australia. It’s also the most licensed item in the Weezer catalog, a distinction that’s left even Cuomo somewhat perplexed over the years. “The funny thing is, the song wasn’t a real radio hit,” he explained. “I can only speculate that it’s because the song has a cleaner guitar sound, which makes it easier for a more mainstream audience.”

Strangely, there are also two music videos for “Island in the Sun.” Marcos Siega directed the original (and the one I’ve embedded here) and shows the band playing the track at a Mexican couple’s wedding reception. However, MTV supposedly disliked the video (with their history of pandering to a white, heteronormative audience, I can’t imagine why …), so a second one was shot outside Los Angeles. Spike Jonze helmed it and featured the band’s members getting up close and personal with all manner of cute animals. Talk about overcompensating.

Anyway, this song’s fun and relaxing, like lowering yourself into a perfectly-temperatured pool on a hot summer day. I wouldn’t call myself a Weezer fan. More of a greatest-hits appreciator. But, when they’ve leaned into their pop-rock craftsmanship, they’re undoubtedly among the best around.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈